Clown Loach Expanding -- Please Help!

[Tinman]

I have aquarium salt. Will that work like the epsome salt? Should I use the aquarium salt instead of Epsome?

I have "API Aquarium salt" "Natural Fish Tonic" -- "Made from evaporated sea Water"

"Adds essential electrolytes: improves gill function, Promotes disease recovery"

Add 1 rounded tablespoon per 5 gallons.

Should I use this tonight? Dissolve in some aquarium water and then drip into the Q-tank? Since I have 10 gallons, should I do 1 tablesppon tonight and 1 tablespoon tomorrow?

YES.....true Tablespoons.....one tonight ,one in the morn and replace water 20% tommorrow night and add another(a third)

[starsplitter7]

Okay I just removed 20%. I will dissolve the 1 Tablespoon of salt into the 2 gallons of water and drip them back into the tank. Cross your fingers. I will keep an eye on her. Hope she starts to deflate.

[Tinman]

I rarely use salt,This is one of those times. fish prayers tonight.You may just add the salt,no reason to drip....

[chefkeith]

Dropsy or bloat is just is a symptom. If it's caused by organ failure, then the fish won't make it no matter what you do. If it's bacterial, antibiotics alone usually take a few days before they start helping. The fish might not have that much time though. I was hoping you had already started the epsom salt treatment. The Epsom Salt treatment immediately helps the fish expel fluids and about anything else in it's system. For antibiotics, the Marcyn I & II combo is good. Start off with a double dosage for the 1st day, then go to the normal dosage for each following day, for 5 days.

[Mark in Vancouver]

Good luck, Tanja! I really hope it goes well.

[chefkeith]

Aquarium salt is better than nothing I guess. I disagree with Tinman though, I would drip it in if it were my fish. No reason to shock the fish.

[starsplitter7]

Dropsy or bloat is just is a symptom. If it's caused by organ failure, then the fish won't make it no matter what you do. If it's bacterial, antibiotics alone usually take a few days before they start helping. The fish might not have that much time though. I was hoping you had already started the epsom salt treatment. The Epsom Salt treatment immediately helps the fish expel fluids and about anything else in it's system. For antibiotics, the Marcyn I & II combo is good. Start off with a double dosage for the 1st day, then go to the normal dosage for each following day, for 5 days.

Okay. I couldn't get the Epsome salt tonight. If I knew that Epsome was needed for treatment, I would have had it on hand. I will never be without it again. I have never heard of it being used before. I will get it tomorrow and I will also pick up the Marcyn I and II. I will also pick up another filter for the main tank. I have added aquarium salt. Will I be able to add the epsome salt with it, or should I remove the water before I start with the Epsome salts?

So far I have never successfully treated a fish for any illness, so I am not hopeful, but maybe with some fishie wishes I will be lucky this time. She's one of my biggest clowns. I have never lost a big clown. I am hoping for the best.

[chefkeith]

Removal of salts is harder on the fish than increasing it, so don't remove the salt until the fish has recovered.

[starsplitter7]

Do I treat with Epsome with the aquarium salt?

I am still dripping the salt.

Tomorrow morning, I will start the rest of the treatment.

Thanks so much for all the help.

[chefkeith]

Here are the wiki links for dropsy and epsom salt.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fish_Dropsy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epsom_salt

[chefkeith]

What kind of aquarium salt is it? Does it list it's mineral contents? Is it pure Sodium Chloride? or does it have Calcium and or Magnesium in it also?

But, yes add the epsom salt when you get it. You can start adding the antibiotics then too.

Remember not to feed the fish. Feeding would make the fish waste energy metabolizing food and it would also foul up the water. If this is any kind of constipation problem, feeding will just make it worse also.

[starsplitter7]

Thanks. I read both articles.

Unforytunately, it says:
"Do not use aquarium salt:

If you use aquarium salt as a preventative, you will want to perform a fresh water change adding no salt. When treating your betta for bloat due to dropsy or any other type of bloat for that matter, it is best not to use aquarium salt in your betta's water. The reason for this is because the fish cannot remove the sodium from it's own body. The betta is already having a difficult time getting rid of salts due to kidney dysfunction. This is what has caused the inflated appearance, as well as raised scales if he has reached that point. Your adding aquarium salt to the water is only increasing the problem. The addition of Epsom salt to the water, may be useful however. (This is discussed below)."

[chefkeith]

Yes it's good to have epsom salt around. It's good for alot of things. I have two 4lb boxes of it on my fish shelf. It costs only $3 per box.

[chefkeith]

You don't use aquarium salt as a preventative though do you? Do you normally add salt to your aquarium?

[starsplitter7]

"I have aquarium salt. Will that work like the epsome salt? Should I use the aquarium salt instead of Epsome?

I have "API Aquarium salt" "Natural Fish Tonic" -- "Made from evaporated sea Water"

"Adds essential electrolytes: improves gill function, Promotes disease recovery"

Add 1 rounded tablespoon per 5 gallons.

Should I use this tonight? Dissolve in some aquarium water and then drip into the Q-tank? Since I have 10 gallons, should I do 1 tablespoon tonight and 1 tablespoon tomorrow?"

This is what I posted above. It is a direct quote from the box. There's no ingredient list. I added about 1 gallon of the 2 gallons of water with 1 Tablespoon of salt. So she got about 1/2 a tablespoon. I will head to the store first thing tomorrow. I will get another filter for the main tank. The Epsome salt and Maracyn I and II. Then I will do another round of small water changes. I have to get to bed, so I can get up early. Thank you so much. Hope my clown makes it through the night.